Interlocking links for jewelry

ABSTRACT

A jewelry piece comprising strands made from connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.29/331,823 filed on Feb. 2, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is jewelry, more particularly, strands ofjewelry made up of connected links wherein complementary strands may beinterconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting ofmultiple interconnected single strands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jewelry has been used as a body adornment throughout human history.Staple components of jewelry include precious, semi-precious, and commonstones, shiny metal, and intricate and aesthetically pleasing designs.Many forms of jewelry also consist of links connected to form a chain,in connection with which jewels and other objects may be strung,mounted, hung, or otherwise attached thereto. This invention is for aseries of interlocking links that, in addition to providing interlockingfunctionality, also may be formed of precious metals and may be used asmountings for stones. When worn or exhibited as described herein, theinterlocking links of this invention may be configured into a variety ofcommon forms of jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, orother types of jewelry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Individual links formed of gold, silver, or other suitable metal, may beformed into chains or strands connected by smaller, conventional links.Each link has a form similar to the shape of the Greek letter omega.Complementary strands may be fitted into one another to form doublestrands that may be used simply as a double strand, such as for a dropearring, pin, or bracelet; or single strands may be used alone to formsimilar pieces of lighter weight. Stones may be mounted within loops ofthe individual links, or may follow a pattern of alternating colors, orof placing a stone in a strand every 2 or 3 links, or in some otherpattern.

Strands are assembled using conventional small, round loops that attachto the ends of adjacent links. In order to form complementary strandsthat interlock, a notch is situated at the outermost top part of eachomega-shaped link to allow omega-shaped links to fit within adjacentlinks of the complementary strand and to provide sufficient space for acorresponding small loop that is connecting the adjacent links of thecomplementary strand.

It is an object of this invention to provide an aesthetically pleasingstrand that may be used to create jewelry pieces.

It is another object of the invention to provide complementary strandsthat may be interlinked to one another.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide individual linksthat may be connected to form a strand.

Still another object of the invention is to provide individual linksupon which stones may be mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strand that may belooped back upon itself to form a partially closed zipper.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent throughthe following descriptions of the invention and of the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interlocking links of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the links of the invention seen from aperspective opposite to that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an interlocking configuration oftwo strands.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the links of FIG. 9 showing the mountingof stones in the interlocking links.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interlocking links of this inventionformed into a necklace.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the necklace of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of the interlocking zipper mechanism of FIG.2.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a drop earring made of complementarystrands of interlocking links.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracelet formed from complementarystrands of interlocking links.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the detail of a single strand consisting of threelinks. In FIG. 1, a strand is shown consisting of three links 2connected by smaller, joining links 4 which are circular in shape. Thejoining links 4 act as hinges, and permit the adjacent pieces to movewith respect to one another. Each link 2 has a rounded head portion 8,and a narrow waist portion 6. Either side of the waist portion flaresoutwardly to form a foot portion 10 where the end of the link is piercedby joining links 4. Each link is symmetrical about a vertical axis whenviewed with the head portion 8 at the top. As can be seen in FIG. 1,when individual links 2 are placed side by side and connected withjoining links 4, the configuration formed by the flared foot portion 10of two adjacent links forms a shape nearly identical to the shape ofeach link's rounded head portion 8. Additionally, where the rounded headportions of adjacent links approach one another at their closest point,the configuration is nearly identical to the waist portion 6 of a singlelink.

FIG. 2 is a view of the same links as shown in FIG. 1, but with theouter, upper surface of the link heads 8 exposed to view. It may be seenthat there is a notch 14 extending transversely across the upper portionof each head 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the notch provides sufficient spacefor a joining link of a complementary strand to fit within the notch,allowing two strands to be fitted snugly together.

FIG. 3 shows the strand of three links 2 of FIG. 2 into which aninterlocking complementary strand of two connected links 12 has beenfitted. The head portions 8 of the links of one strand fit snugly withinthe flared foot portion 10 of two adjacent links on the complementarystrand. It will be appreciated that this complementary, interlockingconfiguration provides a more-or-less rigid assembly that will retainits shape until the individual strands are de-interlocked.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which ornamental objects 20, such asjewels and stones, may be mounted within the round head portion 8 ofindividual links without destroying the functionality of theinterlocking mechanism.

As depicted in FIGS. 5-9, items of jewelry using single and doublestrand links may be configured into various shapes. FIG. 5 shows a“zipper” necklace in which the dangle portion 22 comprises twointerlocking strands while the upper portion that extends about the neck24 is made of a single strand. The single strand comes together at thefront of the neck where a guide plate 26 holds the lower double strandin an interlocking configuration while allowing the double strand to beseparated into single strands for the upper portion. The guide plate canbe situated anywhere along the front of the neck, as the user desires,by urging it upward or downward to allow the strands to interlock or toseparate. FIG. 6 shows how the separate strands 24 come together at theguide plate 26 to form a double strand 22.

FIG. 7 provides a detailed view of the manner in which the linksinterlock to form a double chain at the guide plate 26. This embodimentalso shows an example of how, when two complementary chains are beinginterlocked, the substantially round space 28 formed by the feet of twoadjacent links 38, 40 in a single strand, may be enlarged temporarily tobe slightly larger than the rounded head portion 30 of a link on thecomplementary strand. When the head portion 30 has come to rest withinsubstantially round space 28, hinge 4 allows adjacent links 38, 40 tocome together, holding head portion 30 securely within links 38 and 40.This action is repeated for each single strand link that is to becomeinterlocked with a link from a complementary strand. In this manner, thetwo strands, when interlocked, fit snugly together and hold theirrelative positions. Although not visible in FIG. 7, hinge links 4 inFIGS. 2-4 fit within notches 14, thereby preventing forward or backwardmovement that would otherwise permit the interlocking chains to slipapart.

Interlocking chains may also be used in other embodiments to createaesthetically pleasing jewelry. FIG. 8 depicts a straight double strand42 that may be used as a drop earring or a pendant or other straightpiece. The end of the strand uses an adhesive, snap, weld, or otherretention mechanism to assist the double strand to hold its shape andconfiguration, and prevents the lowermost link 32 from moving downwardfrom immediately adjacent link 34 in a hinge motion at joining link 36.A similar end retention mechanism may be required at the lowermost endof the necklace depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment in which a links forming a double strand isconfigured in a continuous loop to form a bracelet 44.

Other embodiments using the linking mechanism of this invention will beapparent to persons of skill in the art. The invention is not limitedsolely to those embodiments depicted and described herein, but encompassother embodiments that fall within the scope of the following appendedclaims.

1. A jewelry piece comprising: a strand, said strand further comprisinga plurality of connected links, each said link comprising, a roundedhead portion; a narrow waist portion; a foot portion having twoopposing, outwardly flaring feet; and a notch extending transversely onsaid outer surface of said rounded head portion; each outwardly flaringfoot of an internal link in said strand being adjacent to an outwardlyflaring foot of an adjacent link, said adjacent links being connected byat least one joining link that pierces each said outwardly flaring foot.2. The jewelry piece of claim 1 wherein a substantially round space isformed by the joinder of said outwardly flaring foot and said narrowwaist portions of said adjacent links.
 3. The jewelry piece of claim 2,said strand comprising a first strand, said jewelry piece furthercomprising a second strand of connected links, whereby at least some ofsaid rounded heads of said links of said second strand fit within andare locked into said substantially round spaces formed by said adjacentlinks of said first strand.
 4. The jewelry piece of claim 3, said atleast one joining link further comprising a substantially circular linkconnecting two adjacent interlocking links.
 5. The jewelry piece ofclaim 3 further comprising a first section in which said strands are notinterlocked, a second section in which said strands are interlocked, anda guide plate, said guide plate forming a narrowing channel at thejunction of said first and second sections such that, as said guidemoves in the direction of said first section, said rounded heads of saidlinks of said first strand are pressed into interlocking configurationwith said substantially round spaces formed by said adjacent links ofsaid second strand.
 6. The jewelry piece of claim 5 whereby, as saidguide plate moves in the direction of said second section, said roundedheads of said interlocked links are released from being locked withinsaid substantially round space.
 7. The jewelry piece of claim 1, furthercomprising an ornamental object mounted within said rounded heads ofsaid links.
 8. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a drop earringhaving a double strand.
 9. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising abracelet formed from a double strand.
 10. The jewelry piece of claim 5comprising a necklace.